Process of carbonating liquids.



PATENTED OCT. 9

APPLICATION FILED JAILM, 1905.

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No. 832,904. PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906 Y W. A. HARRIS.

PROCESS OF CARBONATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14. 1905.

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PATBNTBD 001". 9

W. A. HARRIS.

PROCESS OF GARBONATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.14.1905.

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r I u Witt moses PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W. A. HARRIS.

PROCESS OF GARBONATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-14, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. HARRIS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO WALTER P. ANDREWS AND ONE-SIXTH TU THOMAS L. BISHOP.

. BOTH OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

PROCESS OF CARBONATING LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

Original application filed October 13, 1904, Serial No. 228,292. Divided and this application filed January 14, 1905. Serial To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. HARRIS, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-

, siding at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Carbonating Liquids, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable others skilled in the art to which IO it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention is a process of carbonating liquids, whereby the carbonated liquid will be formed and the supply of the same maintained automatically without any attention on the part of the operator and without the use of pumps, stirrers, or equivalent mechanical agents which have heretofore been neces- 2o sary for thorough carbonation.

This present application is a division of an application filed by me October 13, 1904, Serial No. 228,292.

In the accompanying drawings, which 2 5 form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an apparatus arranged for the performance of my process. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a diametrical vertical section of one of the tanks or 0 holders, the float being raised. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig.

4 2. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the position of the valves and the cam-slide 3 5 when the float is down, and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of one of the valves on a larger scale.

In the apparatus illustrated I employ two tanks or holders A B, on the rear side of each of which are supported a series of four valves 1 2 3 4. These valves may be designated, respectively, the water-supply, the exhaust, the gas-supply, and the cut-01f valves. The stems of all the valves pass through a rubber or other Water and gas tight packing 5 and bear against a cam-slide 6. The valves are all pressed toward the tank by springs 7, within their respective casings, and the watersupply, gas-supply, and cut-off valves 1, 3,

and 4 are held to their seats by the springs, while the exhaust-valve 2 is pressed away from its seat by its spring and held to the same by the cam-slide, as will presently more fully hereinafter appear. This camslide is mounted vertically in bearings 8 on 5 5 the Wall of the holder and is connected I by links 9 with a lever 10, which is suitably fulcrumed on the wall of the holder or tank and carries a float 11 at its inner end. On the outer edge of the slide I form a series of cam-surfaces 12, 13, 14, and 15, adapted to ride on the ends of the valve-stems, and thereby actuate the valves to open and close the same. The cam-surfaces 12 and 15 are inclines or oblique faces extending downward and inward from the line of the edge of the slide, while the cams 13 and 14 are similar faces extending outward from the edge of the slide, the face 13 being inclined downward and the face 14 upward. Between the several cams are straight faces 16, which permit the slide to move up and down across the ends of the valve-stems without affecting the positions of the valves.

The water-supply pipe 17 leads from the street water-main or other source of supply and is connected to branch water-pipes 18 19. Following the course of the pipe 18 it will be noticed that the water is carried to the valve 1 on the tank A, passes through said valve, and is then carried to the valve 4 on the tank .or holder B. The water passes through said valve 4 into a pipe 20, from which it is discharged into the tank. In the form of apparatus illustrated this pipe 20 passes upward to a point above the tank and is then carried down into the same and terminates at a point near the bottom of the same, the end of the pipe being closed and its sides being provided with fine perforations 21, which permit the on water to discharge into the holder in a num ber of fine streams or spray-like jets. A check-valve 22 of ordinary form is provided in this pipe 20, so as to prevent backflow of the water, and each branch of the water-sup- 9 5 ply pipe is provided with a cut-off or hand valve 23, by which the flow of water may be cut off at will. The gas-supply pipe 24 is coupled to the ordinary gas drum or reservoir in which the carbonating agent is stored, and this pipe is connected with branches 2526. Following the course of the branch 25 it will be noticed that the gas is led to and through the valve 3 on the tank or holder A, and

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thence passes to a point near the bottom of the tank B and enters the said tank, a checkvalve 27 being provided in said pipe near said tank to automatically prevent back pressure, and a cut-off or hand valve 28 being also pro vided between the tank and the said checkvalve. The branch gas-pipe 25 enters a concentric pipe 31 of somewhat l rger diameter, the end of the said gas-pipe being formed into a tapered nozzle 32 within the said pipe 31, which preferably leads from a chamber 29, having a perforated top 30 within the tank. The pipe 31 passes out through the tank and is carried up above the same and is then turned down so as to reenter the tank through the top of the same at the center thereof, as clearly shown, a check-valve 33 being provided in the top portion of the pipe, if desired, to prevent backflow of the mixed gas and water passing therethrough. On the lower end of this pipe 31 within the tank is a rose 34, through which a portion of the mixed wa ter and gas is discharged in the form of spray, and just above the rose is an elbow from which a branch pipe 35 passes to the side of the tank and then down to thebottom of the same, where it is formed into a ring or coil 36, having a series of perforations in one side to permit the discharge of the combined water and gas into the tank. Secured in the top of the tank and surrounding the downturned arm of the pipe 31 is an exhaust-pipe 37, which passes up to a coupling 38, fitted on the said pipe. Leading laterally from the coupling 38 is a pipe 39, which may be provided with a check-valve 40, which pipe carries the exhaust-gas around to the valve 2 on the same tank B. From this valve 2 a pipe 41, provided with a check-valve 48, leads over to the tank A and, after entering the same, turns downward toward the bottom of the same, and is then carried over toward the center of the tank, where it terminates in. a perforated ring or coil 42 above the perforated chamber 29, as clearly shown. Each branch of the gas-supply pipe is provided with a cutoff or hand valve 43, by means of which the flow, may be started or cut off at will, and the two branches of both the water and the gas supply pipes follow similar courses, the two tanks and the pipe connections being duplicated in all respects, so that the foregoing description of one branch ap plies to the other branch as well. Each tank is provided with the usual pressure-gage 44, and. may also be fitted with a safety-valve. The carbonated liquid is drawn oif to supply customers or for other purposes through outlet-pipes 45, which run to a common dispensing-pipe 46, and each of which is provided with a check-valve 47, which will open outwardly under the pressure of the carbonated liquid to permit its use.

The method of carbonating and of maintaining the supply of the carbonated liquid will be readily understood. Both tanks being empty and a drum containing the carbonating agent being coupled to the gas-supply pipe the water is turned on in one of the branches of the water-supply pipesay the branch 18. All the valves 1 2 3 4 are now open, and the floats in both tanks are in their lowest positions. The water passes directly to the valve 1. on the tank A and through the same and the valve 4 on the tank B, entering the pipe 20 and passing through the valve 22 to be discharged from the said pipe 20 and fill the tank B. As the tank fills with water the float therein rises and closes first the gassupply valve 3, then the exhaust-valve 2, and finally and simultaneously the water-supply valve 1 and cut-off valve 4, the closing of the valve 4 preventing the entrance of any additional water into the tank. The valves 2 and 3 close after a very slight rise of the float, (practically at the start of its movement,) thereby preventing any passage of gas or air to the tank A. In actual practice the air initially in the tank has no noticeable effect on the operation and is taken up by the water in its circulation with the gas; but if the pressure should be noticeable on the pressuregage the safety-valve on the tank may be held open manually until the tank is filled with water, so as to permit the escape of the air before admitting the gas. The corresponding gas-supply branch 25 is now opened and gas flows through said pipe to and through the valve 3 on the tank A and escapes through the nozzle 32. The water in the tank B of course has overflowed through the perforated chamber 29 and risen in the pipe 31 to the same level as in the tank. The gas escaping from the nozzle with considerable velocity rises through the pipe 31 and carries with it a portion of the water in the pipe, the said mingled gas and water flowing through said pipe back to the tank, a small part escaping through the rose 34 as a mist and the rest passing through the perforated branch pipe 35, thereby being thrown into the inert body of water in the tank. The result of this movement or circulation caused by the continued inflow of as is a thorough commingling of the water an gas. When the pressure on the two sides of the valve 27 are'equal, the flow of gas will be cut off automatically by the valve 27 dropping to its seat. The watersupply valve in the branch pipe 19 and the gas-supply valve in the branch pipe 26 are opened manually after the valve 27 is closed, which fact will be knownby the pressure indicated on the pressure-gage 44. It will be understood, of course, that a regulating or reducing valve is arranged on the gas-drum or the pipe leading therefrom which may be adjusted to admit the gas uniformly under any desired pressure. When the same pressure is indicated on the pressureage attached to the tank, the valve 27 Will e closed. This ICC regulating-valve is common to all carbonating apparatus and may be of any well-known form. It forms no part of my invention, and I deem illustration of the same unnecessary. The apparatus will now be ready to supply carbonated liquid and to automat- 1cally maintain the supply. Before any of the liquid has been drawn from the filled tank B the several parts will remain inactive, the valve 1 of said tank preventingthe flow of water to the tank A, the valve 4 preventing the flow of additional water into the tank B, and the valve 3 preventing the flow of gas into the tank A, while the excess gas will be held in the tankB by the valve 2. The carbonated liquid from the tank B flows through the dispensing-pipe to the fountain and to the valve 47 in the pipe leading from the tank A and forces said valve to its seat, so as to automatically prevent the flow of the carbonated liquid into tank A. The pressure of the carbonated liquid in the tank B closes the valve 22 and the check-valve 48 in the pipe 41, which has its end within the said tank. As the liquid is drawn from the tank or holder B, however, the float therein will fall, and the cam-slide be thereby carried downward, so as to open the valves on said tank, the cam-surfaces being so relatively situated that the valves 1 and 4 will be opened simultaneously, and consequently the flow of water through said valves will be permitted, so that the tank A will be filled, but no additional water will pass into the tank B until the pressure therein has been materially reduced, as the said pressure will keep the check-valves in the pipes 20, 41, and 45, communicating with said tank, closed. The rising of the water in the tank A will close the valve 3 thereon, so as to cut off the flow of gas to the tank B. As the float in the tank continues to fall exhaust-valve 2 will be next opened to allow the excess or exhaust gas to pass out and to the other tank, it being understood, however, that the valve 2 is not opened until the float is very near the lower limit of its movement and that the valve 3 is opened about five seconds afterthe valve 2. About five seconds are required ordinarily, to permit the exhaust or surplus gas to flow from one tank to the other, and it is necessary to accomplish this before turning on the flow of gas, as the water cannot flow into the tank B until this gas has been removed, and the exhaust-gas cannot enter the tank A -if that tank should be already supplied with gas. When the valve 3 is opened, the flow of gas into the tank A is set up so as to carbonate the liquid therein in exactly the same manner as it was carbonated in the tank B. As soon as the pressure in the two tanks is equalized the valve 48 in the pipe 41, leading from the tank B, will drop to its seat, and thereby prevent further fiow of gas from said tank B, it being understood, of course, that when the tank B was filled the valve in the pipe 41 entering the said tank was closed, as before stated. The carbonated liquid will pass into the outlet-pipes from the tanks and will flow uninterruptedly to the check-valves 47 therein. At those valves, however, the difference in the pressure of the carbonated and non-carbonated liquid will cause that valve to be opened which leads from the tank containing the carbonated liquid, while the other valve will remain closed. As the supply of carbonated beverage in one tank is diminished and the pressure therein reduced the pressure is increased in the other tank, and the valve leading from that othertank will open, so that a constant supply of fully-carbonated liquid at the dispensing-faucet is automatically maintained. After the carbonation has been once accomplished in one tank and the water and gas supply to the other tank opened the water and gas will flow to ward the tanks alternately, and the admission of the same to the tanks will be controlled automatically by the several valves, so that the carbonating process is performed alternately in the two tanks without any attention by any one until the supply of gas in the gas-drum has been consumed. It is then necessary merely to couple a charged gasdrum to the gas-supply pipe, when the operation will continue.

It will be readily seen that this process provides a constant supply of fully-carbonated liquid without any attention on the part of the dealer or his assistants and without the use of pumps, stirrers, paddles, or other mechanical agents. The passing of gas through the holder filled with water sets up a circulation of the water, inthe course of which gas is absorbed by the water very quickly to the desired degree. It is to be noted that the gas passes through and takes up a portion of the water, and this mingled gas and water is returned to the main body of still water at the top and bottom of the same, so that the gas will be scattered through the water and very rapidly absorbed by it. The process is materially hastened by utilizing the exhaust or excess gas from the twin tank, this gas being delivered within the water, so that when the apparatus is fully working the water is not only being caused to circulate with the incoming gas, but gas is also being delivered to the water within the body thereof and also at the top and bottom. The water may be supplied from an ordinary streetmain or may be received from an elevated tank, as a high pressure of the water is not required, there being but a very slight pressure in the tank to be overcome owing to the fact that the surplus or excess gas is carried from the tank before water is admitted thereto. The provision of the cut-off valve 28 adjacent to the tank in the gas-supply pipe permits the gas to be cut off and held within the tank in the event of the check-valve in the said pipe needing any attention. It is to be understood that after the complete apparatus has been once put in operation the valves 28, 43, and 23 are closed only in case of accident. When it becomes necessary to replenish the supply of gas, the valves 23 and 43 are closed, but remain closed only during the period required to couple a filled gas-drum to the apparatus.

The invention is to be used principally for soda-Water apparatus; but it will be readily understood that it may be used in breweries and other places and that any carbonating agent may be used therein, the term gas used in this specification being intended to include compressed air or other agents, while by the term Water is meant any liquid to be carbonated.

The apparatus illustrated is the preferred form of apparatus for carrying out the process but changes may be made therein Without departing from the invention, and I am not to be understood as confining myself to this specific apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The improvement in the art of carbonating liquids which consists in continuously and alternately establishing two bodies of the liquid, supplying a carbonating agent to the first-established body of the liquid, transferring the excess of such agent to the other body of liquid, and then supplying a carbo nating agent to that other body of liquid while drawing off the first-mentioned previously-carbonated liquid.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A; HARRIS.

Witnesses GUY N. HOLLAND, THOMAS L. BISHOP. 

